When a nursing home resident falls, he or she could suffer a significant injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 30 million falls occur each year for people aged 65 and older in the United States.
The consequences of falls for the elderly are significant. Injuries and even death are possible after a fall. Certain types of medications and physical conditions increase the risk of an elderly resident falling, which means nursing home staff and administration must be especially on the lookout for fall risks.
If you believe the staff at your loved one’s nursing home did not provide proper protection from falls, resulting in an injury, you have the right to seek compensation. A Los Angeles falls lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help with your case.
Likelihood of Significant Injuries in a Nursing Home Fall
Nursing home residents who suffer a fall could end up with nothing more than a couple of bruises or cuts, which will heal quickly. Some people who have minor or no injuries after a fall might not even report the incident to their doctors.
However, significant injuries are very possible after a fall. In 2014 in California, more than 200,000 people aged 65 and older visited an emergency room at a hospital for treatment following a fall, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Report Any Type of Fall
Any time an elderly loved one falls, it is important to let the doctor and the staff at the nursing home know about it. The CDC reports that a person aged 65 or older who suffers a fall has double the chance of falling again.
When your loved one is a resident at a nursing home and suffers any type of fall, even a minor one, it is important for the staff to take extra precautions to try to prevent falls in the future. Failure to take steps to protect a resident who is a fall risk could constitute an act of negligence on the part of the nursing home, should another fall injury occur in the future.
Seek Help from an Attorney
When a loved one suffers an injury in a fall at a nursing home, your focus will be on helping the victim recover from their injuries. However, you also may want to hold the nursing home accountable for failing to care properly for your loved one by not employing fall prevention techniques. Trying to balance these two situations can be unsettling.
But when you hire Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, our team can help you by handling negotiations with the insurance company for the nursing home. Employing a Los Angeles falls lawyer gives you more time to help your loved one recover and return to as normal of a life as possible.
Common Injuries in a Fall Accident
Injuries after a fall at a nursing home can range from minor to life-threatening. Some of the potential injuries your loved one could suffer after a fall include:
- Broken bones, including the possibility of compound fractures
- Bruises, including deep muscle bruises
- Torn ligaments
- Head injuries, including traumatic brain injury
Some of these types of injuries after a fall could result in hospitalization. Other times, the resident may be able to stay at the nursing home, undergoing physical therapy.
Either way, your loved one could end up suffering from psychological and emotional trauma after a fall in the nursing home, especially if the fall occurred because of a mistake from staff members. If staff failed to respond to the resident’s call for help for a long time, this also can result in significant emotional trauma.
For a free legal consultation with a Falls Lawyer serving Los Angeles, call (800) 794-0444
Employing Fall Prevention Techniques
Because of the higher risk those aged 65 and over have for suffering a fall, nursing home staff and administration must take fall prevention techniques and training seriously. According to Mayo Clinic, some things older adults can do to help protect themselves from falls include:
- Improve muscle strength and stay active
- Use bright lighting
- Understand which medications could result in dizziness
- Use devices that help stability while walking, standing or sitting down
Some of these tips are also applicable to nursing home, not just a senior living in their own home. For example, residents and visitors should report areas of loose or broken flooring to the nursing home. Residents with vision problems should have access to corrective lenses so they can avoid falling due to blurry vision.
If the nursing home fails to take measures to keep the residents safe, the facility could be held liable after a fall accident that results in injuries.
Reasons for Increased Fall Risks
If a nursing home resident has a certain medical condition or is taking certain types of medication, they may have a greater possibility of falling. Some things that can increase risk for falls include:
- Weakness in the leg muscles
- Pain in the hips and knees
- Lack of the proper level of vitamin D in the body
- Balance issues
- Poor vision
- Incorrect footwear that does not provide a grip on the floor
- Loose rugs
- Torn seams in carpeting
- Broken steps
- Dehydration
- Malnutrition
- Use of certain medications, including sedatives and antidepressants
It is important for the nursing home to keep track of all items that could create a greater fall risk for any resident. Staff members must be aware of the possibility of a fall, so they can employ fall prevention techniques.
Los Angeles Falls Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Your Loved One Deserves Compensation for Injuries
At Pintas & Mullins Law Firm, we take pride in defending the rights of the extremely vulnerable residents of a nursing home. We are always willing to take on tough cases, working tirelessly to help your loved one receive the awards he or she deserves for pain, suffering, a reduction in quality of life, and medical bills.
We have seen how a fall injury accident in a nursing home can negatively affect the life of the victim. He or she may never return to the same level of functionality that was occurring before the accident.
A Los Angeles falls lawyer will be ready to begin working on your case as soon as you hire us.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
